DE Carlos Dunlap separated Robert Griffin III from the ball on this play, but the Bengals expect more big plays out of their newly re-signed defensive end. / Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports

by Joe Reedy, USA TODAY Sports

by Joe Reedy, USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals locked up one of their promising defensive ends Monday when Carlos Dunlap agreed to remain with the team through the 2018 season. He signed a six-year contract worth $40 million, a deal the team officially announced Tuesday.

"One of our key offseason goals was to continue signing and extending our key players, and the signing of Carlos is another positive step," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "Over his three seasons with us, Carlos has continued to progress and develop. He has demonstrated the ability to be productive as a three-down player, and we are glad to have him committed to be a part of our future."

According to Pro Football Talk, Dunlap will earn $18.7 million before the start of next year's training camp and $20 million total during the 2013 and '14 seasons. Dunlap, who is entering his fourth season, was going into the final year of his rookie deal and had a cap number of $1.489 million.

Drafted in the second round in 2010, Dunlap has been consistently rated among the top pass rushers in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, Dunlap had 49 pressures in 363 pass rushing snaps off the left side last season. In three years, he has 20 sacks, including six last season. He also has scored two touchdowns in his career, including one last year off an interception in the regular-season finale against Baltimore.

While Dunlap is a talented playmaker who matured a great deal last season, one of the biggest keys for him will be remaining healthy. He has yet to play all 16 games in a season and has missed significant portions of the preseason all three years of his career. Last year, Dunlap suffered a knee injury in the preseason opener against the New York Jets that kept him out until Week 3.

Lewis and the coaching staff - not to mention fans - have been waiting for Dunlap's breakout. He was listed as the starter at left end last year, but Robert Geathers saw the first snap in every game. Dunlap averaged 45.2 snaps per game to Geathers' 40.4.

With the defensive line being the team's biggest strength (it generated 42 of the franchise-record 51 sacks last season), the Bengals have successfully focused on retaining their personnel. Before the start of free agency four months ago, they re-signed Geathers and Wallace Gilberry. End Michael Johnson received the one-year franchise tag.

Said Dunlap of the unit during offseason workouts: "The camaraderie is already there. Now we just have to get better together. We know how all of us play. We've played together for a couple of years now, so it should be more natural."

However with hopes that an extension can get done with all-pro Geno Atkins that should make him one of the highest paid defensive tackles in the league, it is highly likely that this will be Johnson's final season in Cincinnati. Monday marked the deadline for teams to reach an agreement for players who received the franchise tag. Johnson and the Bengals were unable to come to terms on an extension, meaning that he will play this season on a one-year guaranteed salary of $11.175 million.

With next year also marking the first chance under the new collective bargaining agreement that the Bengals can negotiate extensions with Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton, it seems unlikely they'll be able to hand out three large contracts on the defensive line. That is one reason why they drafted defensive end Margus Hunt in the second round, giving him a chance to learn and develop this season in hopes that he could become a starter down the line.

If for some reason the Bengals could not reach an extension with Atkins before March, he would likely get the franchise tag, which for a defensive tackle is expected to be around $9 million next season.

The Bengals locked up their core players between 2005 and 2007, when it appeared they were on the cusp of consistently contending. After making consecutive playoff trips for the first time in 30 years, they are trying to follow that same model again.